Matthew 12:4 kjv
How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
Matthew 12:4 nkjv
how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
Matthew 12:4 niv
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread?which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
Matthew 12:4 esv
how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
Matthew 12:4 nlt
He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.
Matthew 12 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 12:3 | He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?" | Direct preceding context, introducing David's action. |
| Mark 2:25-26 | He said to them, "Have you never read what David did ... ate the showbread ... and also gave some to those who were with him?" | Parallel account; emphasizes David sharing. |
| Luke 6:3-4 | And Jesus answering them, "Have you not even read this, what David did ... ate the showbread, which is lawful for none but only for the priests?" | Parallel account; highlights the unlawful nature for non-priests. |
| 1 Sam 21:1-6 | Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest ... the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread. | Original Old Testament narrative of David's action. |
| Lev 24:5-9 | Every Sabbath he shall arrange them before the LORD regularly; it is an everlasting covenant with the children of Israel. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons... | Law explicitly designating showbread for priests only. |
| Exod 25:30 | And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always. | Instruction for placing showbread in the Tabernacle. |
| Matt 12:5 | Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? | Jesus's second example, priests' blameless work on Sabbath. |
| Matt 12:6 | Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. | Jesus's assertion of His own superior authority. |
| Matt 12:7 | But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. | Jesus quoting Hos 6:6, emphasizing mercy over rigid ritual. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. | Old Testament prophetic statement, quoted by Jesus, valuing mercy. |
| Deut 23:25 | "When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain." | Permits eating minimal grain from another's field. |
| Matt 9:13 | "Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." | Another instance of Jesus quoting Hos 6:6. |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them ... But this is what I commanded them: 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God.' | Prophet Jeremiah prioritizing obedience and heart over ritual. |
| Isa 1:11-17 | "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the LORD. ... "Cease to do evil, learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor..." | Isaiah challenging ritual without justice and mercy. |
| John 7:22-23 | Moses therefore gave you circumcision ... and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses may not be broken... | Jesus citing an exception in the law (circumcision on Sabbath). |
| Num 28:9-10 | 'On the Sabbath day two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour ... This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath... | Sabbath offerings in the temple, demonstrating work allowed for priests. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people... | New Testament believers as "royal priesthood" and ability to access God. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. | Jesus as High Priest, understanding human weakness and need. |
| 1 Sam 21:8 | Now there was a man of Saul's servants there that day... Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. | Shows there was a witness to David's act, which had future consequences. |
| Rom 13:8-10 | Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments... are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." | Love and essential principles supersede detailed ritual. |
| Gal 3:24-25 | Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. | Law's purpose as guidance until Christ, then grace-centered life. |
Matthew 12 verses
Matthew 12 4 Meaning
This verse references an event where King David, when in urgent need, entered the house of God and ate the consecrated showbread, which by law was designated exclusively for the priests. Jesus uses this historical precedent to defend His disciples, who had picked grain on the Sabbath, illustrating that human need and mercy can, in specific circumstances, transcend the strict letter of the ceremonial law. It highlights a principle that rules, particularly ceremonial ones, are not absolute if they contradict life-sustaining needs or divine mercy.
Matthew 12 4 Context
Matthew 12:4 is part of Jesus' direct confrontation with the Pharisees regarding Sabbath observance. In the preceding verses (Matt 12:1-2), His disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath and ate it, prompting the Pharisees to accuse them of unlawful activity. Jesus responds by appealing to two Old Testament examples. The first, found in Matthew 12:3-4, is the historical account of King David eating the showbread from 1 Samuel 21:1-6. This story highlights a revered figure acting contrary to a ritual law due to dire necessity, without condemnation in Scripture. This specific incident served as Jesus' primary defense for His disciples, indicating that genuine need can supersede strict ceremonial regulations. This broader chapter theme concerns Jesus' authority as the Lord of the Sabbath, challenging the rigid, legalistic interpretations of the Pharisees who prioritized rules over the well-being and genuine needs of people. The dialogue sets the stage for further displays of Jesus' power and compassion, often in direct opposition to the Pharisees' teachings.
Matthew 12 4 Word analysis
- how he entered: Jesus' statement begins by referencing an established historical event known to His audience. The implication is not of secrecy, but a well-known fact within their scriptural understanding, challenging their judgment against His disciples based on this precedent.
- the house of God: Greek: oikon tou Theou (οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ). This refers to the Tabernacle (which stood at Nob during David's time) or, more broadly, the Temple as its successor. It was considered sacred space. Entering was not inherently forbidden, but the actions performed within were strictly regulated by divine law.
- and ate: This simple act of eating becomes the focal point of transgression in the Pharisees' rigid interpretation. However, Jesus emphasizes David's dire hunger as the motivating factor, mirroring His disciples' hunger.
- the showbread: Greek: artous tēs protheseōs (ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως). Literally, "bread of the presence" or "bread of the setting forth." These were twelve loaves of unleavened bread, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, placed on the golden table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle/Temple before the Lord. They were replaced weekly (Lev 24:5-9) and the old, consecrated bread was exclusively for the priests to eat in a holy place. It was deeply symbolic of God's sustaining presence with Israel.
- which was not lawful: Greek: ouk exhon (οὐκ ἐξὸν). The emphatic negative, meaning "it was not permissible" or "it was not right/lawful." This highlights that David's action was a clear violation of ceremonial law (Lev 24:9), yet it was not condemned in the biblical narrative itself, suggesting a higher principle at play.
- for him to eat: Refers to David. His status as King (or future king) did not grant him access to the showbread; only priests were authorized.
- nor for those who were with him: This emphasizes the communal aspect of David's action. His men also partook, extending the "unlawful" act to others, demonstrating that the need encompassed his entire company.
- but only for the priests?: Greek: ei mē tois hiereusin monois (εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν μόνοις). This phrase underscores the strict limitation imposed by the Law, reinforcing the gravity of the technical transgression while setting the stage for Jesus' counter-argument regarding exceptional circumstances. It shows Jesus acknowledges the Law while pointing to its spirit.
Matthew 12 4 Bonus section
The narrative of David and the showbread found in 1 Samuel 21 holds deeper Messianic implications that Jesus taps into. David was fleeing Saul, representing the rejected king, and his anointing would ultimately lead him to kingship, much like Jesus, the true Son of David, would establish His kingdom. The fact that the priest Ahimelech, though hesitant, ultimately granted the showbread to David on the condition of ritual purity, suggests that even in a highly sacred setting, exceptions were possible for one whom God was clearly anointing. This can be seen as an early foreshadowing of a future time when a "greater David" would bring a new covenant where the rigidity of the ceremonial law would give way to the spirit of mercy and the fulfillment found in Himself. Moreover, Jesus, in claiming Lordship over the Sabbath and demonstrating mercy through these acts, acts not only as a King like David but also as a high priest, who can permit what was once forbidden, aligning with His role as our great High Priest in the New Covenant.
Matthew 12 4 Commentary
In Matthew 12:4, Jesus draws upon a potent Old Testament narrative concerning King David to establish a profound principle: God's laws, especially ceremonial ones, are not intended to impose burdens that negate basic human needs or His overarching mercy. David, a figure revered by the Jewish people and destined to be king, broke a clear priestly law regarding the showbread due to intense hunger. Critically, David was not condemned for this act in the Old Testament, suggesting divine approval or at least understanding of the circumstance.
Jesus uses this example to justify His disciples' act of plucking grain on the Sabbath due to hunger. The implied argument is multi-faceted:
- Necessity: David's hunger made him take action otherwise unlawful, demonstrating that basic human needs can necessitate exceptions to ceremonial rules. The same applies to the disciples.
- Higher Principle: God's intent behind the law is benevolent, prioritizing life and well-being over strict adherence to ritual. This aligns with His later statement in Mt 12:7, quoting "I desire mercy and not sacrifice."
- Jesus' Authority: By associating His disciples' actions with David's, Jesus implicitly positions Himself with an authority comparable to or greater than that which excused David's act, foreshadowing His statement of being "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mt 12:8).
The verse highlights that God values human welfare and compassionate consideration more than rigid, unyielding adherence to external religious forms, especially when the latter imposes undue hardship or ignores life-sustaining needs. It reminds us that while God's laws are sacred, their purpose is often misunderstood if not viewed through the lens of divine love and mercy.
Examples for practical usage:
- Understanding that spiritual disciplines (like fasting) should be practiced with wisdom and concern for health, rather than harming oneself in rigid adherence.
- Recognizing that demonstrating genuine love and help for a neighbor in need might sometimes require bending a less critical church custom or rule.
- Prioritizing showing grace and understanding over condemnation when others, driven by dire need or unique circumstances, make choices that seem to contradict minor interpretations of scripture.